I coined this word several years ago when I was studying the effects of ergonomics in relation to sewing. I found that sewing machine tables and chairs were very one size fits all. I also understood that many sewers and crafters stayed in one position for lengthy periods to complete projects increasing their risks due to their static postures.

Crafters and Sewers are at high risk for musculoskeletal injuries due to several factors: Repetition and force of needlework, scissor work, twisting of fabric, vibration of the machines, awkward postures while sewing at machines, cutting on table tops, pinning into various weighted fabrics to name a very few.

Here are some of the few topics I cover when speaking to audiences for Sewgernomics Seminars.

 
Chair Height is correct when the work surface is at elbow height and the sole of the foot should rest on the floor.

Chairs should have lumbar support and wheel based. Avoid arms on chairs unless you actually rest your arm on them.

 Height and Tilt adjustable tables help sewers access their work without using awkward postures.

Edges of work surfaces should be padded or rounded, so that you can rest arms against them without the threat of cutting off circulation

Use of Adjustable task lighting and magnifying glasses at workstation can assist with fine work inspection.

Avoid reaching and bending by walking around the table, or pulling work down towards you as you sew or cut. Raise levels if you are bending over to reach projects.

Use proper body mechanics when lifting fabric or machines from floor to table and table to floor. Scoot or slide items when possible instead of picking them up.

Look away from your machine or needlework every 20 minutes.

Use sharp scissors. Consider self opening scissors. Or alternate between self opening and regular scissors.

Take 5 minute micro breaks at least every 90 minutes to stretch and adjust positioning.

Occupational therapist works where patients are

The Wichita Eagle

Occupational therapist Melissa Smith is taking her business on the road.

Smith is the owner of O.T. on Wheels, a business she started a couple of years ago after about 20 years of working in hospital and medical practice settings.

To her knowledge, she is the only occupational therapist in Wichita who offers outpatient therapy — not home health services — in clients’ homes and workplaces. As with therapists who work in other settings, she takes referrals and bills insurance.

Her mobile practice satisfies her entrepreneurial spirit and her desire to focus less on billable hours and more on the satisfaction that helping clients gives her.

It also offers convenience for workers who need less time away from the office or stay-at-home mothers.

She started as Ergoability, focusing on ergonomics, but branched into outpatient therapy because it gave her more opportunity to work with individuals.

As an occupational therapist and ergonomics assessment specialist, she helps her clients become more functional and productive “in whatever they do.”

When she set out on her own, she decided she didn’t need an office: “I’d never be there — or never should be there.”

She’d felt limited in medical settings, trying to ask the right questions to understand what a client’s needs at work or at home were. It’s easier to see the needs in the client’s setting, she said. “I’m trying to put the person back in their normal situation.”

Because she’d been a successful OT in medical settings, Smith assumed she’d have lots of business when she went out on her own. Her thought: “They’re going to find out I’m out there, and I’m going to get a bazillion patients.”

Reality surprised her. She has found that networking and getting the word out takes more effort than she’d expected. “It’s all more complicated than I thought,” she said. “It’s really been quite a challenge.”

She said about half of her work is with outpatient OT clients and about half is with ergonomics clients.

Smith travels light, carrying a few tools of the trade with her, such as hand helpers and light weights. But “a lot of times, the household is your equipment, or the workplace is your equipment,” she said.

Reach Karen Shideler at 316-268-6674 or kshideler@wichitaeagle.com.

Read more: http://www.kansas.com/business/story/1138918.html#ixzz0coHxe0h3

October 17, 2008 by Judith ·

Common courtesy, social graces and socially acceptable behavior. All are used in a civilized society where humans interact with one another. Cyberspace is not any different. That’s where Email Etiquette comes in.

How you will be perceived, the type of human being that you are or for that matter are not, your credibility and your levels of professionalism and ethics will be judged by how you choose to communicate with others online. Yes, to be aware of and practice Email Etiquette is a choice…

Netiquette or e-mail etiquette 10 best rules are:

1. Imagine your message on a billboard. Anything you send can be forwarded, saved and printed by people it was never intended for. Never send anything that will reflect badly on you or anyone else.

2. Remember that company emails are company property. Emails sent from your workplace can be monitored by people besides the sender and reader, and are technically company property.

3. Avoid offensive comments. Anything obscene, libelous, offensive or racist does not belong in a company email, even as a joke.

4. Keep your message Cool. Email messages can easily be misinterpreted because we don’t have the tone of voice or body language to gives us further cues. Using multiple explanation points, emoticons, and words in all capital letters can be interpreted as emotional language.

5. Be careful about forwarding messages. If you aren’t sure if the original sender would want to forward the message, don’t do it.

6. Don’t expect an answer right away. Email messages may be delivered quickly, but your recipient may not read it right away.

7. Don’t sacrifice accuracy for efficiency. Don’t send sloppy, unedited email. Experts say that for every grammar mistake in an email, there’s an average of three spelling mistakes. While the odd spelling mistake is overlooked, when your readers have to break communication to decipher a word or message, at best, you’ll look slopping, if not illiterate. At worst, they may stop reading.

8. Include the message thread. Keep the original message for a record of your conversation. However, when sending a new message to the same person, start a new thread with a new subject line.

9. Don’t type in all CAPS. It’s perceived as YELLING. However, don’t write with only small letters, as this is perceived as your being lazy, because it makes it more difficult for people to read.

10. Write clear, organized messages, with a subject line that gives enough information for the reader to file it and find it later.

The wind sings through the trees that decorate my lawn in the fall. These are the trees planted on the days of First Communion for my sister Emily and Sarah. They now protect me from the sun and brighten my spring while beautifying my fall.

I grew up in this beautiful home with my loving parents Anne and Gene Jones and my sisters Sarah and Emily and my brothers Cahill and Ashley. I am the baby. Funny that all but one live within walking distance to this home and two others actually in College Hill.

In 2003 my parents decided that they needed a home more conducive to their needs and contemplated putting the family home on the market. They asked all five of us if anyone was interested. Stan, my husband, always loved the home from the moment I brought him here to meet my parents in 1983. He would have never dreamt at that point that he would one day actually own this lovely homestead. He and I were the only ones interested and able at that time to make a move. So we proceeded. We are now the third owners of this beautiful brick home. We are all so happy that it did not have to leave the family.

Soon after we moved in, the house that I became so attached to, appeared to return my sentiments. As my husband was raking leaves, his heart stopped and he was going down. He hit his face on the front step railing while falling and it brought his heart back. I understand it was a sudden death event. If it had not been for the railing my father installed, my husband would have been taken from me. Thank you oh gracious home.

Moving here has been loaded with memory after memory. I still have flashbacks today when I hear a noise, a closet door opening or a stair step squeak.

I remember having my diaper changed and taking bubble baths with my brother in the bathroom my children now inhabit. Christina is in the biggest room as she is the oldest. She places my grandmother’s bed in the middle of the room directly over where my sister Emily had laid masking tape to distinguish her side of the room from Sarah’s. Sam is in the room that my brothers Cahill and Ashley shared. It still has blue striped wallpaper but instead of boats along the top there are Jayhawks. I let my children chose the theme of their room since I was taking them from a home they had known for 10 years. This is the room in which Cahill suffered from the chicken pox and Dr. McGuire came for a house visit. Lindsay is in the room where I slept in a crib and cried out because I thought the curtains looked like witches. I learned to sew and made many outfits in that room. I grew into a woman living in that very small space. I watch her do the same. Stan and I are in the Master Bedroom of course. My friends ask me if that is weird, living in the same room Mom and Dad resided in. I had never thought of it, but no, it is actually very secure and comforting. The decorations were picked out by the both of them. This is where I would sit and tell my mother how in love I was when I was 16 and had my toenails cut by Daddy when I was a toddler.

My basement is now a haven of electronics bought by my husband in the guise of giving them as a present to his son. Big boys and their toys! Much different from the basement that I played in with my Barbie camper and watched Romper Room. I watched intently every day and waited for Miss Fran to say my name in her magic mirror but I never heard “Melissa”. She came up with some very bizarre names, but never mine. Cahill would be playing with his Hot Wheel track and performing science experiments. I would occasionally “work out” with Jack La Lane and his fabulous belted jumpsuits.

College Hill was safe and fun. I attended Hyde for kindergarten and walked the short 5 blocks without a care. That was when you basically ate graham crackers, painted and took a nap on this neat looking colorful braided mat.

In grade school I would walk the other direction 5 blocks to Blessed Sacrament Catholic School. I was informed early-on to only follow to close to Cahill. At least one block distance was good.

Then for all of the good times on the block. There must have been about 80-90 children on our block alone. Kick the can and hide and seek had never been such a challenge. I usually was in the middle of the challenge because somehow I was the youngest and therefore “it” most of the time. I remember once Michael Cookson, my next door neighbor gave me a break and said he would be “it” for me. There are some things you never forget. The Cooksons were often the hosts of a big mess in the basement called a “ghost house”. This was primarily made up of catsup and sheets and a bunch of us trying to scare each other in the dark. I was an entrepaneur even at that young age, probably 6 or so as I popped popcorn and sold it for 10 cents a bag.

Parker’s was the local grocery store and I biked up there many times for a last minute item for Mom’s dinners. Just sign your name on a piece of paper and you magically get to take stuff! What a concept! The same with Gessler’s. I remember my Dad chuckling at how many candy bars had been charged to his account. Those employees knew Cahill and I were there for one thing and one thing only!

The winters were grand. Plenty of snow in December and January. As a matter of fact my birthday, January 6^th was white until high school or later. Once again, Cahill and I would somehow manage to get along long enough to drag the sleds to College Hill. We would sled all day and then come home half frozen. I had little red plastic boots that had a little fastener on the side and Cahill had “waffle stompers”. We would lay our wet mittens, gloves and socks on the radiator to dry. The same radiator I now have a wooden top on and display proudly the pictures of my family.

In the summer the boys would play football on our front lawn. As much as Dad tries, he could not fill in the long row of dirt that would not grow grass due to all of the games going on. I don’t think he minded, it actually probably made him proud. I would dance around in my leotard, tutu and baton in the yard and hope someone would see me or a car passing by would wave. I must have missed my calling. My sister’s would come home from college and wear really cool things like feather earrings or bandana halter tops bought from Cricket Ally and Sargeant Pepper’s Parlor. Emily worked at Baskin and Robbins and brought me home one of those big beach balls once. What a prize!

Sarah watched over me and would drive me around. I would write to her often at school and never knew she had kept every last one of my letters. Even the one that told her about the statue of liberty.

In the 70’s I was prime for a lot of babysitting jobs in College Hill. It was also when BTK was on his sadistic rampages. I would put the children to bed and then sit still, watching Love Boat and Fantasy Island while constantly checking the phone line for a dial tone. I cried like a baby when I heard he was captured.

I am raising my children exactly where I was. I cannot claim to be half as good a mother as mine was to me but I have her wonderful example to follow. Even though my father has recently passed, I still feel his presence with me as I enjoy my beautiful view on the front porch. I am now there for my neighbors who watched me grow up. I can now watch over them. I am extraordinarily lucky to be in such a magical place called College Hill.

Here’s a list you’ll want to check twice

By Peggy Post

1. Don’t invite both members of a divorced or separated couple to a holiday gathering — unless you know they’re on good terms. Most people who split up prefer not to see each other, at least initially. Bringing the two together could make them — and possibly others — uncomfortable. Instead, plan to see them separately over the holidays. That will be more time-consuming, but it’ll be worth the effort if you want to stay friends with both parties.

2. If a guest gets drunk at your home, stop serving him alcohol and see that he gets home safely. Refusing to pour more liquor for an inebriated guest may be awkward, but it’s necessary. Tell the person in private why you’re cutting him off. Then ask another guest to take him home. If no one is able to give him a ride, call a cab for him (and pay for it if need be). Or, simply provide him with a bed for the night. Never, never, never let a guest drive away intoxicated. Sure, he may be embarrassed or insulted at the moment, but at least he’ll be alive in the morning.

3. When Aunt Irma, feeling inventive, brings her cucumber-banana gelatin mold to Christmas dinner, accept graciously (no eye rolling, please). A good host responds to an unexpected — and perhaps unwelcome — contribution with aplomb. Thank your aunt and serve her creation with your spread. You might think cucumber and banana is a disgusting combination — but now’s not the time to tell her so, and you’d hurt her feelings if you failed to offer it to your guests.

4. If gift giving with your relatives is getting too expensive, it’s okay to scale back — as long as you discuss it with them well in advance. Ending gift escalation is not as hard as you think, if you’re willing to be frank. Months before the holidays, bring up the idea of alternative giving schemes. Some options: drawing names, limiting presents to a specific dollar amount, giving gifts only to kids and not to adults. Others will probably be grateful that you were brave enough to start the discussion.

5. When you receive horrible, wrong-size or duplicate gifts, smile, say something polite, extend a thank-you…and then run for the returns line. A collector’s plate featuring Yosemite Falls? Really, what was your mother-in-law thinking? Still, you can probably come up with something appreciative to say: “This is so thoughtful! You know how much I love the outdoors.” But being gracious about a gift doesn’t mean you always have to keep it. Yes, if the item is one of a kind or homemade — like a painting or a knitted scarf — you’re stuck with it. Otherwise, you can take the item back to the store and exchange it for something else. And when your friend asks how you like your new hand blender? Don’t lie. Say, “I love those so much, I already owned one — so I didn’t think you’d mind if I exchanged it for a food mill. Thanks for making my life in the kitchen so much easier!”

Naughty or Nice: Tips 6-10

6. Regift rarely…if ever. You have a surplus of “stuff,” and it seems like the best way to downsize is to pass things on to other people. Makes sense. Problem is, if the truth emerges, two loved ones will feel hurt — the original giver (because you obviously didn’t value her choice) and the recipient (who thought you’d take the time to find something special just for her). The basic guidelines for regifting: First, you must be positive that the gift is something the recipient would love. Second, the item must be brand new and in its original package. And third, it shouldn’t be something the original giver took great care to select just for you. An example: Regifting a nice bottle of Pinot Noir to a wine lover is okay. Regifting a crystal vase your mother brought you from Bermuda is not.

7. If you’re creating a holiday “newsletter” to send with cards, keep your readers in mind. Newsletters should be short (a page or less) and sweet. Keep them upbeat — most people don’t want to hear about your dental surgery. On the other hand, avoid turning your letter into a brag sheet. Saying, “Sam and I were lucky enough to visit Europe — at long last!” is low-key and friendly. But “Sam and I spent a week at a deluxe French spa and were utterly pampered” screams “Don’t you wish you were us?” Personalize each copy with a handwritten salutation and always sign your name. Also, be sure you’re sending the newsletter only to people who are genuinely interested in your family news.

8. When you receive a holiday card from someone you didn’t send one to, reciprocation is optional. Send if you wish. But beware of turning the exchange of holiday cards into a table tennis match. Say a card arrives from your cousin Myron on the seventh day of Hanukkah, and oops, you’d accidentally forgotten him. Instead of thwacking a card back across the Web — which may seem perfunctory rather than sincere — wait a few weeks and write him a letter. Or, call Myron to thank him for such a thoughtful note.

9. In fact, there’s no obligation to send holiday cards at all. Too stressed? Forgo the tradition this season, but vow to get in touch at another time of year: Valentine’s Day, Fourth of July, first week of fall, etc. You’ll have more time for writing cards and hopefully won’t view it as such a chore.

10. Don’t start decorating for the holidays until after Thanksgiving. Once Santa has passed by in the Macy’s parade, you’re good to go. Earlier than that, and it may seem as if you never bothered to take anything down from last year!

By Peggy Post

1. All hosts love a surprise gift — including your mother and aunts.

2. Be willing to pitch in, but instead of asking the harried host how you can help, volunteer to do a specific job like loading the dishwasher.

3. If you make the offer to help and the host firmly declines, back off — some people really don’t want guests in their kitchen.

4. At family get-togethers, don’t let nosy questions upset you. Deflect rudeness by changing the topic: “You’re right, Uncle Jim, I was thinner last year. How ’bout those Steelers?”

5. Houseguesting? Observe this rule of thumb: Three nights is usually plenty. Spell out arrival and departure times well in advance so your host isn’t left guessing.

By Chris Adams, About.com

Repetitive stress on the wrist can lead to a number of different injuries, like tendonitis, bursitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, etc. They all have similar symptoms, mainly the wrist, hand and arm hurting. And although some conditions can have other primary causes, they are all aggravated by wrist overuse. With that in mind here are the top 10 tips to prevent repetitive stress injuries of the wrist.

1. Stay Healthy

Maintain a healthy body weight and a good cardiovascular system. An unhealthy body causes stress everywhere. Add that to any environmental stressors and you may have a problem.

2. Stay Strong

Keep your wrist, arm, hand and fingers strong. It is harder to overuse something if it is normally worked harder. Strengthen the muscles involved and increase flexibility through stretching.

3. Don’t Break the Wrist

Lay the outer part of your forearm on a hard surface. Let it rotate inward naturally. Keep your wrist straight. That is the natural wrist position (see image above).

Notice that the palm is at a 30-45 degree angle and that the fingers are curled. Keep that position whenever possible. Flexing and twisting of the wrist causes all the tendons and nerves to rub over leverage points at the joints which can cause a lot of problems.

4. Use Your Muscles

Control the movement of your hand and fingers through muscle use not tendon/ligament use.

One big problem with typing on modern keyboards is the lack of strength needed to press a key. This causes you to simply start a motion of the finger and let momentum carry it through. This can cause minor hyper extensions and wear and tear on the tendons and nerves.

Musicians are prone to this as well, due to the speeds they need to achieve. Developing strong fast twitch muscles is a better alternative.

5. Take Breaks

Take regular breaks to relieve stress. Take this opportunity to stretch and increase blood flow. You should break for at least 10 minutes for every hour of continuous work with 30 second micro breaks every 10 minutes. Performing a warm up and cool down stretch will help as well.

6. Change Positions

Change your position and posture regularly. Change of position will call in different muscles, kind of like a relief pitcher, letting the first group rest.

7. Get a Good Grip

Use a proper sized grip for your hand.

Look at your natural wrist position again. Now bring your thumb and fingers together until they are separated by the width of two quarters. That is your grip size for holding things. That is your ideal grip for things like handrails or screw guns.

Now continue to close your hand until the thumb overlays the first joint of your index finger. That is your grip size for manipulating things with your wrists, things like hammers, shovels or golf clubs.

8. Maintain Your Distance

When working with your hands keep them in the middle ground, not too far, but not too close to your body. This allows muscles in your arms, shoulders and trunk to help share the load.

It also keeps your joints in the middle of their range of motion, which increases blood flow and reduces the flex of tendons/ligaments/nerves over those leverage points at the joints.

9. Don’t Go to Extremes

Just because your joints can pivot that far does not mean yours should. Do not flex your joints to the edges of your range of motion while working.

Most muscles can not maintain control of your body at these extremes which can lead to hyper extension and muscle pulls. It also flexes the tendons and nerves over those leverage points of the joints.

10. The Low Down

Do not flex upward. The hand is designed to grip, so most muscle control and joint range is aimed at a downward flex. There’s less leverage on an upward flex so the body has to work harder to move that way. The tendons and nerves also have harder leverage points to stretch over.

Keep palms and fingers somewhere between flat and the grip position.

Keep your typing and mouse click upstrokes as short as possible. Do not use the scroll wheel as that motion is almost entirely upward flexing.